by Brian K. Jones

Esperanza Spalding was introduced to much of the music world for the first time, on February 13, 2011, as she was announced the winner of the highly touted Grammy Award for Best New Artist of the year; an award that many had reserved in their minds and hearts for their own R&B, Hip Hop or Pop music hopefuls. She has since won over many of those same music enthusiasts, who are now singing her praises, with her undeniable voice and range, her multi genre instrumentals, and fresh compositions.

Home schooled by her mother for much of her primary schooling, Esperanza, whose name in Spanish means Hope, developed an affinity to self learning and the hands on atmosphere that was fostered there. At home, while watching an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” where she witnessed classical musician,Yo Yo Ma, playing the Cello, she became inspired to teach herself to play the violin at 4 years old. She began to play well enough to join and play with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon, from age 5 to 15.

Esperanza then discovered the Bass, and the art of improvisation that it introduced her to. She left high school, received her GED and took advantage of a scholarship in her hometown, to attend Portland State University. Shortly afterward, her talents landed her on the campus of the prestigious Berklee School of Music at 16, where she sharpened her craft of composing, and graduated with her BM in 3 years. In 2005, it was also at Berklee, while just 20 years old, she became the youngest faculty member ever at the famed Boston institution.

Playing the bass opened the door for her to other genres ranging from Classical, Blues, Jazz, and Bossa Nova, to Hip Hop. Her new found love with the Bass kindled musical collaborations with artists from Patti Austin, to Prince, and Stanley Clarke, to Stevie Wonder. Currently, she is touring with such respected notables as Terri Lynne Carrington (who readers may remember as the house drummer for The Arsenio Hall Show in the late 80’s.) ,Gretchen Parlato, Leo Genovese and a host of others.

She continues to draw diverse audiences that span, and include venues in places from Oberlin College,in Ohio (the first US college to regularly admit African Americans), Japan, South Africa, the annual The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, and President Obama at the White House. She sings fluently in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, not to mention the way she scats in a dialect reminiscent of the ladies of the golden age of Jazz from five decades ago.

Observing her in concert, is a complete musical experience, as she begins her current tour on a darkened stage, by turning on the nearby floor lamp, and stylishly ascending from her reading chair with a glass of wine, crowned with her more than 12 inch afro. She then slowly consumes the audience, as she sings, and commences latin dancing with and without her bass (that she sometimes intermittently plays with a bow as a cello.) The petite Spalding even serenades her participants as she whistles as beautifully as she sings. She reports that her audiences are indeed participants, as the energy given by them, causes a different feel, and improvisation of the songs that is unique with each show. She is obviously reassuring her audience directly, as she suggests in her smooth, vocally alluring lyrics, “Don’t worry if we fall in love. We will never touch the ground.” With the musical offerings of Esperanza Spalding, you are sure to do just that; fall in love.

After three celebrated cd’s; “Junjo” (2005), the self titled “Esperanza” (2008), and “Chamber Music Society” (2010), she will conclude her European tour by working on “Radio Music Society,” a project that will team her up with Q Tip, which she hopes will expose to radio audiences, another facet of the artful music Esperanza loves to make.